Shoulda Books

I unpack Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 classic "Never Let Me Go".   I dive into some of the questions that philosophers have asked for millennia, vent some of my frustrations with the characters, and take a peek at a very specific branch of science you don't hear much about today.   sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks join the Shoulda Book Club on Fable: https://...

Stephen LaConte is the managing editor of Clickhole and the author of the advice column Stephen, Please. He's also the boyfriend of hyper-realistic cake creator Jonny Cakes, who refers to him (respectfully) as Cake Twink. Stephen shares 2 memoirs and a play that will make you laugh, cry, and question whether children should ever be actors.   sign up for Stephen's advice column: https://stephen.sub...

Sam Bakas (editor, The Try Guys) returns to discuss 3 books that helped him find meaning in a cold, indifferent universe.   follow Sam on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShmoopy follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshmoopy/ for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks books discussed below. t...

The Left Behind series traumatized me as a tween, and I know I'm not the only one. Join me for a loose, rambling episode exploring this cursed series and how it shaped the American Evangelical mind and, consequently, maybe even current US foreign policy?   NOTE: I recorded this episode on the afternoon of April 7th, 2026, before the temporary ceasefire was announced   Guardian article: https://www...

Merle Shane O'Neal shares 2 books that mean a great deal to me, and one that I know absolutely nothing about. So it goes.   follow Merle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merleeshay/   follow Merle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MerleONeal   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discusse...

this week, we're rumbling through S.E. Hinton's 1967 classic The Outsiders , the book that apparently taught the publishing industry that teenagers read books   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing books through these links,...

Ash Perez discusses 3 books that bring together comedy and heartbreak, and that balance nostalgia with hope for the future.   pre-order Ash's delightful new rom-com audiobook "Speak Now" (available March 31, 2026)  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Speak-Now/Ash-Perez/9781668117927?utm_campaign=speak-now_ash-perez_audio&utm_content=audio_buy_link&utm_medium=audio_author_outlet&utm_source=auth...

Author Andrew Martin shares the three books he thinks everyone should read. His fantastic new novel Down Time is available everywhere now, via Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.   follow Andrew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewhmartin85/?hl=en   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed...

Scott Broker, whose excellent new novel The Disappointment is out now, stops by to talk James Baldwin, Greek myths, desire, grief, and more.    check out Scott's website: https://www.scottjbroker.com/ follow Scott on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottjbroker/?hl=en   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Shoulda...

The inimitable Jonny Cakes talks about 3 books and whatnot, sure, but MOST IMPORTANTLY he reads his diary from a Walden-style English class/camp. And, honestly, the Beautiful Dining Room Studio has never been so blessed.   follow Jonny on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejonnycakes follow Jonny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejonnycakes/?hl=en follow Jonny on TikTok: https://www.tik...

I hold down the fort on my lonesome this month to talk through a classic that I ended up enjoying much more than I thought I would. JUSTICE FOR BERTHA.   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   article about machine learning I mentioned: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ai-revives-physiognomy...

Emilie Friedlander (writer and co-host of The Culture Journalist podcast) shares 3 books that shaped her thinking on music, culture, and, well, THINKING itself.   find Emilie's work here: https://www.emilie-friedlander.com/   follow Emilie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emiliefriedlander/?hl=en   check out The Culture Journalist podcast: https://theculturejournalist.substack.com/   Emilie...

Will Witwer shares 3 books that have me questioning just what HE means when he says a book is "fun"   follow Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwitwer/?hl=en   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode (and lots more), sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing...

at least the scenery looked nice (at times). Joyce Louis-Jean stops by to discuss the absolute trainwreck that is Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights".    to listen to the full episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks this is the first episode of SHOULDA FILMS, a monthly bonus show about movies adapted from books. sign up for the Professor tier ($7.9...

MJ Smith shares 3 books that helped her deal with rage. Just don't ever call a Cheeto a chip in front of her.   follow MJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss_joy99/?hl=en follow MJ on Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/moirajoy/home Miles Bonsignore's 24-Hour Livestream for Creators Against ICE | Feb 15, 2026 | 9 am onward (PST) Perfect Person podcast (where the livestream will be held): https:/...

Jack McGill (The Try Guys) shares 3 nonfiction books that might just make you rethink everything.    follow Jack on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsjackmcgill follow Jack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjackmcgill/?hl=en for February, we're reading "Jane Eyre". follow along with the Shoulda Book Club on Fable: https://fable.co/club/the-shoulda-book-club-with-shoulda-books-225140024...

I sit down with editor and YouTuber Sam Bakas to discuss a book that could NOT be more relevant to today…Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits".   follow Sam on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShmoopy/featured follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshmoopy/   books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing books through these links, you sup...

Tori Dunlap (founder and CEO of Her First 100k) shares 3 books that shaped her thinking on love, loss, and the meaning of life.   follow Her First $100K on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HerFirst100K/featured follow Her First $100K on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herfirst100k/?hl=en follow Her First $100K on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@herfirst100k?lang=en   buy Tori's book: https:/...

YouTube film essayist Thomas Flight shares 3 books that changed the way he sees the world.   follow Thomas on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasFlight sign up for his newsletter:  https://www.seeingthroughfilm.com/   books discussed: "The Burnout Society" by Byung-Chul Han https://www.strandbooks.com/the-burnout-society-9780804795098.html "Ways of Seeing" by John Berger https://www.strandboo...

Cailyn Hoertz (The Try Guys) shares 3 books that cover Greek mythology, hangover mac & cheese, a love triangle where it's impossible to choose sides, and more.   new episodes every Thursday.   books discussed: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare  https://bookshop.org/p/books/clockwork-angel-cassandra-clare/9051e39b3f858cc5?ean=9781481456029&next=t   Everything I Know about Love by Dolly Alderton  h...

Miles Bonsignore joins me for the first weekly episode of Shoulda Books to share the three books he thinks everyone should read. new episodes every Thursday   listen to Perfect Person follow Miles on YouTube follow Miles on Instagram   join the Shoulda Book Club on Fable sign up for the Shoulda Books Newsletter follow Shoulda Books on Instagram follow Shoulda Books on TikTok   Shoulda Books theme...

the year is almost over, so you know what that means...that's right, I'm making a dang tier list of all the things I read in the dumpster fire that was 2025. did I read an impressive number of books? NO. am I letting that stop me? no, but I do feel self-conscious. AND THAT'S OKAY. some of the books I talk about in this episode are: The Hunger Games, Parable of the Sower, My Year of Rest and Relaxa...

the people have spoken. find out which 3 books we're reading January - March of next year!   if you want to watch this episode, you can check it out the YouTube channel here   music composed by Skyler Klingenberg (thanks Skyler!)

Welcome to the next chapter of Shoulda Books. Some things are changing. Some things are staying the same. Kinda like life, I guess? This mini-episode gives an overview of where the podcast is heading in the weeks and months ahead   Weekly episodes start January 8th.    To vote on what we'll be reading in January - March, sign up for the Newsletter at shouldabooks.com   Follow on Instagram and TikT...